Jalopiejoe
Member
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2020
- Messages
- 35
Can't help you on age, but I have the same gun. Mine is an early blackpowder version, thus I haven't shot it unfortunately.I have an Iver Johnson top break .32 revolver I would like to date?
It appears to have a blued finish and the serial number on the butt strap and under the top strap is 3200.
No letter prefix.
I believe it to be a very early 1st Model.
Thanks for any help!View attachment 1000465 View attachment 1000466 View attachment 1000467 View attachment 1000468
I looked under the left grip and found nothing! Just the 3200 under the top strap and on the butt!Going by the top latch that's a second model not first. The full serial number, letter prefix included, will be on the grip frame under the left grip panel. These were made from 1897 to 1908, according to Goforth's book. Details of the markings can differentiate between the variations of this model, of which there were several.
I looked under the left grip and found nothing! Just the 3200 under the top strap and on the butt!
Thank you so much!Well OK then! Quoting Goforth p. 63: "About mid-year 1896, the letter code as well as the serial number was [sic] moved from the bottom of the butt strap to the left side of the grip strap under the grip panel...." And on the previous page there's a table showing that 1896 production guns' s/n's began at A0001, and 1895 guns had no letter code. So assuming the author was correct yours is a second model from 1895, the first year of production; and a pretty early one too. Oh and it's a black powder gun.
Thank you so much!
That's the most information I have heard about my gun!
I was also curious why the owl on the grips seem to look in different directions on different guns?
Mine are looking towards the barrel!